Tag Archives: Carter

Amazon Prime Video begins production on the first scripted Canadian Amazon original comedy series – The Lake

From a media release:

Amazon Prime Video today announced the start of production of the first scripted Canadian Amazon Original series, The Lake. Set in cottage country, the 30-minute episodic comedy will film in northern Ontario from August to September. The Lake stars Jordan Gavaris (Orphan Black), Julia Stiles (Hustlers, The Bourne Identity) and Madison Shamoun (#blackAF, Black-ish). The series will launch in 2022 and be available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

The Lake centres on the quintessential Canadian cottage experience, and one man’s attempt to recreate his childhood memories in an effort to re-connect with his biological daughter. Produced by AMAZE and filmed in northern Ontario, the series taps into the family bonding, relaxing in nature and the peacefulness of cottage country then turns it on its head, with petty rivalry, strained relationships, day drinking, and mosquito-ravaged sunburns.

In The Lake, Justin (Jordan Gavaris) returns from living abroad after a break-up with his long-term partner, in the hope of reconnecting with the biological daughter that he gave up for adoption in his teens. His plans to create new memories with his city-loving daughter Billie (Madison Shamoun) at the idyllic lake from his childhood go awry when he finds out his father left the family cottage to his “picture-perfect” stepsister, Maisy-May (Julia Stiles). Additional cast include Jon Dore (Funny As Hell, Humour Resources), Carolyn Scott (Pushing Tin, Goosebumps), Natalie Lisinka (Orphan Black, The Expanse), Travis Nelson (Tucker and Dale vs Evil) and Declan Whaley (Criminal Minds).

The Lake is produced by AMAZE, with Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence serving as executive producers for AMAZE (Carter, Call Me Fitz), and is written and executive produced by Julian Doucet (Killjoys, St Nickel). The Lake comes from Amazon Studios and is part of Prime Video’s continued investment in Canada. The Lake is the fourth announced Canadian Amazon Original series following the revival of the sketch comedy The Kids in the Hall, docu-series All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs, and comedy-variety series LOL: Last One Laughing Canada. Since 2015, Amazon Studios has filmed 24 Amazon Original series and films in Canada, including The Man in the High Castle and Upload in Vancouver, The Boys and The Expanse in Toronto, Tales from the Loop in Winnipeg, as well as parts of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and The Voyeurs in Montreal.

The Lake will join the thousands of TV shows and movies from Hollywood and worldwide in the Prime Video catalog including award-winning and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals like The Tomorrow War, The Underground Railroad, Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and Emmy and Golden Globe award winners Fleabag and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, all on Prime Video, which is available at no extra cost for Amazon Prime members.

Prime members will be able to watch all episodes of The Lake anywhere and anytime on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV and stream online.

Image courtesy of Peter Stranks.

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Link: Carter star Jerry O’Connell enjoying his moment in the spotlight

From Melissa Hank of Postmedia:

Link: Carter star Jerry O’Connell enjoying his moment in the spotlight
“I read this comedy about a guy who’s a cheesy procedural actor, and he moves to this small town and tells the cops how a cheesy procedural actor would solve crimes. It really made me laugh. Also, I didn’t have to do any research because I knew exactly who the guy was.” Continue reading. Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Preview: Carter kicks it up a notch in Season 2

If the first episode is any indication, Season 2 of Carter is going to be very, very good. The Canadian original, starring Jerry O’Connell as actor-turned-private investigator Harley Carter, roars back with a stellar premiere on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on CTV Drama Channel that showcases the comic talents of O’Connell and Kristian Bruun.

Created by Garry Campbell, Andy Berman takes over showrunning duties from Campbell. The result—at least from what I’ve seen in Friday’s debut, “Harley Wears a Wig”—is a show that has evolved in its second season. Episode 2, “Harley Loses a Finger,” follows at 10 p.m. ET.

Here’s the official synopsis for “Harley Wears a Wig,” written by Berman and directed by Peter Wellington:

Harley Carter’s first official case as a P.I. is a kidnapping with a surprising twist.

And here are a few tidbits and additional thoughts from me after watching a screener of the episode in advance.

Harley as a P.I. rocks
It would have been silly to try and make excuses for Harley to keep dropping into the Bishop Police Department as an actor applying his skills to solving cases. Growing the character allows the show to move forward and land great comic payoffs.

Harley + Dave = Laughs
Kristian Bruun’s Dave is Carter‘s secret weapon. When he, O’Connell and Sydney Poitier Heartsong are together on-screen, giggles are guaranteed.

Colin Mochrie guest stars
Speaking of laughs, Mochrie helps kick off Season 2 in style as Neil Jacott, a man who asks Harley to find his missing wife, played by Debra McGrath. Mochrie’s Neil is an odd duck, and Sam doesn’t take him seriously.

Lyriq Bent joins the cast
John Bourgeois is out and Lyriq Bent is in as Bishop’s new police chief. I’ve been a fan of Bent’s for years—most recently on Mary Kills People and Shoot the Messenger—and his straight man role as Joyce Boyle simply kills.

Carter says goodbye
A sweet storyline involving Dot (Brenda Kamino) and an episode closing credit allows the series to bid farewell to Koji and Denis Akiyama, who passed away last year.

Carter airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on CTV Drama Channel.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

CTV’s original hit series Carter returns October 25 on CTV Drama Channel

From a media release:

CTV’s original MADE® in Canada series CARTER returns for its second season on the newly rebranded CTV Drama Channel, full of comic twists and schemes with a two-episode premiere on Friday, Oct. 25 at 9 p.m. ET. In Season 2 of this unorthodox mystery crime drama, star Jerry O’Connell reprises his CSA-nominated role as Harley Carter, a former television detective who, having successfully charmed his way through solving real-life mystery cases, has returned to the scene of the crime as an official private detective this season.

Re-joining Carter on his new adventures are fan-favourite co-stars Kristian Bruun and Sydney Poitier Heartsong as Harley’s childhood friends Dave Leigh and police detective Sam Shaw. Together the trio taps into Harley’s years of playing a fictional detective to uncover a new crop of crimes and culprits in the lakeside town of Bishop, Ontario, further proving that truth can be stranger than fiction.

Joining CARTER this season is CSA-winning actor Lyriq Bent (THE AFFAIR) who stars as new police chief Joyce “Joy” Warwick Boyle, an NYPD transplant with a mysterious past and threat to Harley’s love life. In addition to Bent, CARTER boasts a fantastic lineup of multitalented acclaimed guest stars including David Arquette (Scream), Colin Mochrie (WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?), O’Connell’s MY SECRET IDENTITY co-star Derek Mcgrath (KIM’S CONVENIENCE),  and legendary THE KIDS IN THE HALL alumni Kevin McDonald and Dave Foley.

In the premiere episode, “Harley Wears A Wig” (Friday Oct. 25 at 9 p.m. ET) Harley (O’Connell) takes on his first official case as a P.I. when Bishop local Neil Jacott (Colin Mochrie) asks him to help track down his missing wife – but things are not quite as they seem. Joyce Boyle (Bent) arrives in town and takes over as the new chief of police for Bishop P.D., inspiring Sam’s (Poitier Heartsong) interest and Harley’s suspicions. Also, Dot (Brenda Kamino) deals with her new normal after the passing of her husband Koji (Denis Akiyama).

Next at 10 p.m. ET, the episode entitled “Harley Loses a Finger” begins with a severed human thumb in a jar. When a group of British grifters come to Bishop, Harley(O’Connell) and the gang find themselves thrust into a Guy Ritchie-style caper and locked into a game of cat and mouse with a charming British conman (Julian Richings, DOOM PATROL).

In Canada, CARTER made Bravo (now CTV Drama Channel) the #1 entertainment specialty channel in its timeslot throughout its run. Outside of Canada, the series was commissioned by Sony Pictures Television (SPT) for AXN, where it will return for Season 2 in select markets across Europe and Latin America and will also return to WGN America in the U.S. The series is distributed by SPT worldwide, excluding Canada.

CARTER is produced by Amaze Film + Television and executive produced by the company’s founders Teza Lawrence and Michael Souther (CALL ME FITZ, Saint Ralph), producer Victoria Hirst (Away From Her), as well as series creator Garry Campbell, O’Connell, and Season 2 showrunner and EP Andy Berman (PSYCH).Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail